Question
I’ve been taking lamotrigine and sodium valproate for three years now, and I still have frequent seizures. Should I change medications? Please help me, doctor.
Answer
The patient has been taking lamotrigine and sodium valproate for three years and still frequently experiences seizures, asking whether it’s necessary to switch medications. The doctor advises that medication changes should be based on the individual circumstances of the patient, including the nature of the disease, constitution, age, and other factors. Western medicine can control the condition, but long-term use may produce side effects leading to the occurrence of new diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment has the advantages of being non-toxic and side-effect-free with definite efficacy and is considered the first choice for treating epilepsy. However, traditional Chinese medicine treatment requires to be administered by a physician with special expertise in treating epilepsy, and not all doctors agree with this form of treatment.